What philanthropy makes possible

C&S Wholesale Grocers’ approach to supporting employees and their families includes investments in local healthcare

The greater Keene community has a well-deserved reputation for community spirit and taking action to support the health and wellness of people in the Monadnock Region. A notable example is C&S Wholesale Grocers, Inc.’s leadership gift to CMC/DH’s Initiative for Community Wellness fundraising campaign.

As a result of our Initiative for Community Wellness launched in 2015, more than 400 individuals, businesses and foundations contributed $2.3 million to help redesign and renovate our Emergency Department, and expand Healthy Monadnock, the community-wide health initiative.

This past December, in recognition of the company’s leadership gift to the Initiative, the Medical Center’s new, state-of-the-art 11,000 square foot Emergency Department was named the C&S Wholesale Grocers Emergency Department. C&S Wholesale Grocers, Inc., headquartered in Keene, is the largest wholesale grocery supply company in the U.S. and is one of the region’s largest employers.

“We are truly grateful for C&S Wholesale Grocers’ charitable support of our mission,” said Don Caruso, MD, MPH, the Medical Center’s CEO/President and Chief Medical Officer. “Their generosity demonstrates their longstanding commitment and steadfast support of the community’s health and wellness and of our hospital.”

“We’re proud to support Cheshire Medical Center,” said Rick Cohen, Chairman & CEO, C&S Wholesale Grocers. “Cheshire’s medical teams provide expert care to people in the region, including to our employees and their families. Their vision and work toward making this area the healthiest in the nation is inspiring.”

The Hoffman Family Foundation, Savings Bank of Walpole, the Timken Foundation of Canton, Ohio, Melanson Company, Inc., Cogswell Benevolent Trust, and the Putnam Foundation also provided significant financial support to the Initiative for Community Wellness.

In addition to the Emergency Department renovation, funds raised through the Initiative enabled the hiring of five critical staff members who are building partnerships with employers, schools, and other organizations to expand Healthy Monadnock’s work throughout the community.

The Healthy Monadnock initiative seeks to increase opportunities for healthy eating, physical activity, smoke-free living, and family resilience in all the places residents live, learn, work, and play—and ultimately improve the health of the entire community.

“We’re honored that C&S Wholesale Grocers chooses to continue the longstanding tradition of supporting local healthcare,” notes Jim Putnam, chair, Cheshire Health Foundation Board of Trustees. “I invite the community to join me in extending our gratitude to C&S Wholesale Grocers and to all donors who made such a difference by supporting The Initiative for Community Wellness.”